Macromolecule extracted from Gracilaria caudata reduces inflammation and restores hepatic function in nimesulide-induced hepatic damage

Abstract

Seaweeds are a source of novel bioactive compounds such as sulfated polysaccharides (PLS) that are not found in plants, but that may confer health-promoting properties. Sulfated polysaccharides extracted from seaweeds have several biologically beneficial effects. The PLS extracted from the red alga Gracilaria caudata are known to have anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, and gastroprotective activities. The present study aimed to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of PLS obtained from G. caudata on a nimesulide-induced liver damage model. Hepatic lesions were induced in mice by oral doses of nimesulide (200 mg kg−1) administered once daily for 5 days. Once a day, 30 min after administration of nimesulide, PLS was administered intraperitoneally at concentrations of 2.5, 5, and 10 mg kg−1. Subsequently, blood was collected for biochemical tests and the liver was removed to evaluate inflammatory parameters. Administration of PLS at the dose of 10 mg kg−1 led to a significant reduction in hepatic injury, liver weight/animal weight ratio, the levels of a neutrophil migration marker (myeloperoxidase), pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α), nitrate and nitrite, oxidative stress markers, and hepatic function markers. As per our results, the PLS extracted from G. caudata was able to modulate the inflammatory response in nimesulide-induced hepatic damage in addition to re-establishing the hepatic homeostatic functions.